Conflicts in the minds of western opinion makers. Retired western opinion makers. Retired British Army Colonel richard kemp will give me his view. The actor kevin spacey, who was earlier this year acquitted of charges of sexual assault, made a surprise appearance at the sheldonian theatre in oxford. His recitation from shakespeares timon of athens moved an audience which was there to remember the philosopher Roger Scruton and to denounce modern cancel culture gb news emma webb was in the audience and will be to here reflect on the performance and talking of theatre and theatre reality. Our resident critic stephen kiriasis has been busy a busy bee all week , buzzing busy bee all week, buzzing around three shows, including a ballet. Later in the program , ballet. Later in the program, ill be asking what should be done with the land that was purchased by the government for that chunk of the hs2 railway thats now been cancelled. And thats now been cancelled. And we reflect on trafalgar day. Ill be joined by a man whos probably come to the probably come closer to the conditions endured by nelsons sailors anyone else alive. Sailors than anyone else alive. All of that is to come. But first, your News Headlines with sophia wenzler. Sophia wenzler. Good morning. Its 11 02. Sophia wenzler. Good morning. Its11 02. Im good morning. Its11 02. Im sophia wenzler in the newsroom is rail has issued an urgent warning to residents in northern gaza telling them to move south. It follows another night of airstrikes with medical sources saying more than 50 palestinians were killed. Leaflets and phone were killed. Leaflets and phone messages warn those who stay in the north could be seen as sympathisers with a terrorist organisation and are putting their lives at danger. Former israeli ambassador to the uk, daniel taub says israel is not targeting civilians. We have been working very closely with the International Community to try and make sure that supplies humanitarian access, reaches the palestinians of the gaza strip , particularly of the gaza strip, particularly in the south. But were also aware that to date , in the 16 aware that to date, in the 16 years since israel pulled out of every inch of the gaza strip, humanitarian aid, and thats including european aid has been and abused by the hamas terrorist organisation. Terrorist organisation. The head of the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission to the uk, Manuel Hassassian, says he Still Believes in a two state solution i and dont try to put us, you know, all in a frame that we are terrorists as palestinians. There is a difference between the Palestinian People who want peace and security and there is a difference between the palestinian authority, which is the legitimate, legitimate representative of the Palestinian People who believe in a two state solution, who have condemned the violence all along. The question is, can israel stop state terrorism on equal basis . Equal basis . All the United Nations says a second convoy of aid could be delivered to gaza today. 20 trucks were allowed to enter the strip when the rafah crossing on the border with egypt was opened for a few hours yesterday. The un says 100 trucks are needed each day to meet the essential needs of the palestinians. Us needs of the palestinians. Us immigration minister Robert Jenrick says diplomacy is key. Jenrick says diplomacy is key. What we should be doing is using the assets of the uk, which is our relationships with countries like egypt and israel and our Development Aid to support as many Vulnerable People as possible in gaza rather than creating small schemes to privilege a small number of people. The priority is to get the british nationals out and humanitarian aid in in a way which means it is not diverted and abused by the terrorist organisation. Hamas people believe a woman in her 80s has died as a result of flooding in chesterfield. The flooding in chesterfield. The discovery of her body brings the total number of people whove died during storm babet to four. Floods are still affecting parts of the uk, including yorkshire , of the uk, including yorkshire, scotland, east anglia and the east midlands. The Environment Agency says there are three severe flood warnings in place in derbyshire , Manchester United in derbyshire, Manchester United will open a book of condolence for fans at old trafford following the death of sir Bobby Charlton. He was a key member of englands world cup, winning team. In 1966, united players team. In 1966, united players wore a black armband for their game against Sheffield United last night. The club says he will always be remembered as a giant of the game. Former england manager Sam Allardyce paid tribute to his kindness. He was a great ambassador for Manchester United and a great ambassador for football and england and such and such a kind person. I think thats what everybody dodi is tribute is explaining to what a great, great guy he was, what a contribution he made to football for england and for Manchester United. And of course, as a youngster, i watched him in the World Cup Final on my black and white tv at the time. All those years ago. But it was a pleasure to know him every time i went to old trafford, hed stop and have a chat with you. The this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car , on your Digital Radio and car, on your Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news now its back to michael. Michael. Thank you very much. Sophia wenzler. When the tories lost wenzler. When the tories lost two by elections a few months ago, they were consoled by narrowly holding on to uxbridge, probably by opposing the labour mayor of londons plans to tax polluting vehicles. Some polluting vehicles. Some conservatives believe that it pointed the way to a policy shift reducing the rigour of environmental policy. The prime environmental policy. The Prime Minister has indeed delivered important changes, but despite that, the party can find no solace after being trounced in the by elections at tamworth and mid bedfordshire, labour overturned majorities. Overturned two huge majorities. So has the electorate already decided next years election result . Reporter reports suggest that jeremy hunt fears a portillo moment in his surrey constituency and to avoid such a savage humiliation wont stand at all. But is there yet something that the conservatives can play for to opine on that very simple question. I welcome very simple question. I welcome mark lehane from the centre for policy studies, formerly special adviser to Nadhim ZahawiPeter Edwards, whos the former editor of and the former of labourlist and the former Labour Government minister Denis Macshane shane peter, the macshane. Shane peter, the swings this week were very significant indeed and labour needs to have a result even better than tony blairs result in 1997. But these swings actually put it on the path to having a majority. So in the labour party, are people now pretty confident of victory . Pretty confident of victory . No, i think theyre pretty confident. Isnt that were on confident. Isnt that were on a level Playing Field and weve got a good chance. And i think the stats you quoted, jason show why both main parties have reasons to fear of course in tamworth, mid beds yorkshire, the swings are very high. One of them second largest them was the second largest post war labours post war, but he said labours starting point around 200 starting point with around 200 mps and the house of commons now is so i think in labour is so bad, so i think in labour the mood very because the mood is very good because you keir sorted you know, keir starmer sorted out the party to be frank out the party and to be frank there is an element watching there is an element of watching there is an element of watching the conservative not the conservative government not just Self Destruct but Self Destruct just Self Destruct but Self Destruct while prosecuting a culture war which seems is doomed to failure because of demographic change. But in my lifetime im 42. Labour have lost an awful lot of elections, so it is absolutely not a done deal. Deal i, deal i,i deal i, i admire your natural caution. I think its a very appropriate position. People were quite impressed by the Labour Party Conference because they saw a great deal of unity at a time when labour has passed through some quite difficult issues, being one of issues, israel being one of them. What do you draw from from that . For example, starmer has taken a very strong position which has been in favour of israels right to defend itself and that means in this case to retaliate, retaliate against hamas. Did you feel that was putting strains on the party or do you think this has been a proof how well the party is proof of how well the party is doing in unity terms . I mean, i think it asks the question the membership, question of the membership, and im here today, question of the membership, and im all here today, question of the membership, and im all accept here today, question of the membership, and im all accept thatzre today, question of the membership, and im all accept that theoday, question of the membership, and im all accept that the horror wed all accept that the horror in its the middle east is so in its in the middle east is so great in itself that it obviously trumps Party Political concerns in westminster. But there labour there was a moment when labour party began days after party began just days after these terrorist these this wicked terrorist attack by hamas that you you you thought what would the reaction be of the labour membership . But keir starmer came out very quickly and in really in lockstep with rishi sunak condemned hamas for the largest killing of jews since the holocaust. And weve got to keep reminding ourselves how bad it was at. And that to you and i, thats not contentious to put it in those terms because it was such a horrendous event and it was not contentious at labour conference because i think the mood of the party and the membership of the party changed and they were accepting of what keir starmer said on israel. Mark, we hear there about a lack contention, a unity lack of contention, a unity within labour party, a party within the labour party, a party thatis within the labour party, a party that is subduing its differences because its determined to win, which is very different from the conservative party which continues to advertise its differences. What prospect differences. What prospect of the party being the conservative party being more united now and more united between now and election you think . Election day do you think . Mean, were still at well, i mean, were still at least away from least probably a year away from the election. And at any point the election. And at any point over the few years, i dont over the last few years, i dont think anyones been to think anyones been able to accurately predict what years accurately predict what a years time like. And think time would be like. And i think as approach point where as we approach the point where elections going elections are going to be called, will focus in called, people will focus in again public unity. But again on that public unity. But the party has the conservative party has always a broad church. You always been a broad church. You know, thats been made up of lots with of lots of people with lots of different we different ideas about how we should stuff. And when youre should do stuff. And when youre in you actually get in government, you actually get to make those calls. Youre to make those big calls. Youre not talking about what you not just talking about what you would youre about would do. Youre talking about what do and i think what you should do and i think its natural, its only natural, given everything countrys everything the countrys been through those big through with all those big shocks and ukraine shocks like covid and ukraine and that, that people and stuff like that, that people are what right are debating what the right thing to do next is. Have known party for i have known the party for a long and it is a broad long time and it is a broad church. Its also very often a divided party. And when its a divided party. And when its a divided party, it quite often loses. Certainly what loses. Thats certainly what happened we were very, happened in 1997. We were very, very quite struck very divided. I was quite struck by point that made. By a point that peter made. There assumed two, to there peter assumed that two, to pursue the woke issue would be a vote the vote loser for the conservatives. Im not sure that i agree with him and i wonder whether you do. Think its so i dont think its something that should be front and of the and centre of what the conservatives campaigning and centre of what the con butatives campaigning and centre of what the con but lets; campaigning and centre of what the conbut lets be campaigning and centre of what the con but lets be clear. Paigning and centre of what the con but lets be clear. Alljning and centre of what the con but lets be clear. All that on. But lets be clear. All that these woke issues about is common responses to common sense responses to difficult situations and the centre if like. Centre of gravity, if you like. Around most people in the conservative is exactly conservative party is exactly where my where the public are. My background teaching. Background is, is teaching. I was teacher a teacher for was a teacher and a teacher for 15 years. The stuff the government is working on, for instance, around transgender guidance wont guidance for schools that wont be of thing thats on be the kind of thing thats on people about the people talking about on the doorsteps. Families doorsteps. But for families whove in schools whove got children in schools and that work in and for people that work in schools, of schools, and thats a lot of people 800,000 people, people about 800,000 people, thats a really big issue. So i think provider the government does thing on those does the right thing on those things, it things, doesnt make it divisive, just makes it divisive, but it just makes it common sense and practical that will with people. But will resonate with people. But they deliver the they have to deliver on the other as well, like cost other stuff as well, like cost of immigration and stuff of living, immigration and stuff like macshane does it feel Denis Macshane does it feel like Denis Macshane does it feel uke you Denis Macshane does it feel like you not quite, like 1996 to you not quite, because tony blair undoubtedly was a very charismatic leader , was a very charismatic leader, much more so, if i may say so, michael, the Margaret Thatcher people back project, the famous thatcher who arrived by the end of the 1980s. Mrs. Thatcher in the 1970s was quite a cautious , centrist was quite a cautious, centrist politician. She imposed comprehensive schools everywhere, which wasnt popular with the tory right. She was with the tory right. She was very pro european. And i very pro european. And i remember her wearing that wonderful sweater with all the colourful flags of europe on it. But after the falklands war and then after the necessary defeat of arthur scargill, because he embarked on a, you know, a battle of the somme against the british people, the British State , and then she became the state, and then she became the great figure. Tony was already there. I may interrupt you on that point and say to you, are you saying that starmer is as charismatic as Margaret Thatcher was 1979 . But the same . Was in 1979 . But the same . Id say hes very prophetic arsenal like she was very well prepared and occasionally she would dare a joke , but usually would dare a joke, but usually get it wrong. Sir keir tends to get it wrong. Sir keir tends to avoid jokes. I mean, hes a trained high grade lawyer. Hes middle of the road. Hes a solution solver, and he is not given to any kind of excitement. Ive tracked him a little bit and i think thats what people want. Weve had, frankly, too much excitement from the conservative party in the last 5 or 6 years. Too many Prime Ministers too many policies going left or right or up or down, and people are fed up with it. And rishi sunak, who seems a decent head boy of winchester in an average year, is not really, i think cutting it as a person of the people. Let me try that on peter. So the idea is that we dont want any excitement, right . But i as any excitement, right . But i as a voter, im an exasperated by the fact that nothing in britain works. You know, whether youre talking the railways or talking about the railways or the service whatever. The Health Service or whatever. And i would like to hear and i would quite like to hear from whos going tell from someone whos going to tell me is going to be me how britain is going to be made the future. And made to work in the future. And im unimpressed by anyone whos not talking fundamental not talking about fundamental reform. With denis reform. Do you agree with denis that subject that that is a subject that should avoided by keir should be avoided by keir starmer . Dont think you can starmer . I dont think you can win avoiding that subject, win while avoiding that subject, but the public but i think where the public have se